Image-capture apparatus including light-guiding element having inclined surface

ABSTRACT

An image-capture apparatus includes an imaging element, a display, and a light-guiding member having an inclined surface, where the light-guiding member is disposed so that a portion of the light-guiding member having a reduced thickness at the inclined surface is disposed behind the imaging element. The light-guiding member reflects light to be applied to the display at the inclined surface and guides the light to the display.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to image-capture apparatuses. Inparticular, the present invention relates to an image-capture apparatussuch as an electronic camera which includes a display.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Hitherto, electronic cameras have been developed in which imagesare photoelectrically converted by imaging elements such ascharge-coupled devices (CCDS) instead of recorded on films, andphotoelectrically converted image data are recorded on internal solidmemories or detachable recording media.

[0005] Conventional electronic cameras include color liquid crystalpanels as monitors, which may be used for reproducing and displayingcaptured images, or alternatively, as viewfinders for displaying imagesphotoelectrically converted by the imaging elements.

[0006] A known electronic camera shown in FIG. 3 includes a camera body21, an image-pickup lens unit 22, an imaging element 23 which is, forexample, a CCD for converting incident light from an object through theimage-pickup lens unit 22 into an electrical signal, and animaging-element-holding plate 24 for holding and fixing the imagingelement 23 to the image-pickup lens unit 22. The known electronic cameraalso includes a liquid crystal panel 25, and a backlight 26 disposedbehind the liquid crystal panel 25 for supplying light to the liquidcrystal panel 25. In the illustrated embodiment, the backlight 26 is aplane lamp illuminant at the overall surface thereof, e.g., by using aplanar cold-cathode tube. The camera further includes a memory card 27as a detachable recording medium, a connector 28 for affixing the memorycard 27, a battery 29, and a release button 30.

[0007] In the known electronic camera thus formed, a drawback has beenfound in that it is difficult to reduce the thickness of a camera bodyin which the liquid crystal panel and the backlight 26 are disposedbehind the imaging element 23.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to an aspect of the present invention, an image-captureapparatus comprises an imaging element, a display, and a light-guidingmember having an inclined surface, disposed so that a portion of thelight-guiding member, which is reduced in thickness at the inclinedsurface thereof, is disposed behind the imaging element. Thelight-guiding member reflects light to be applied to the display at theinclined surface and guides the light to the display. The image-captureapparatus can be reduced in thickness even when the display is disposedbehind the imaging element.

[0009] Further objects, features and advantages of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following description of the preferredembodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a camera according to anembodiment of the present invention;

[0011]FIG. 2 is a sectional view from the top of the camera shown inFIG. 1; and

[0012]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a known camera.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0013] Preferred embodiments according to the present invention aredescribed in details as follows with reference to the drawings.

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an electronic camera according toan embodiment of the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 1 shows a camera body 1, and an image-pickup lens unit 2positioned substantially at a center of the camera body 1. An imagingelement 3, such as a charge-coupled device (CCD), is disposed behind theimage-pickup lens unit 2. The imaging element 3 receives light incidentfrom an object through the image-pickup lens unit 2, and converts thelight into an electrical signal as an image signal. Animaging-element-holding plate 4 holds the imaging element 3 and fixesthe same to the image-pickup lens unit 2. A rectangular liquid crystalpanel 5 is disposed behind the imaging element 2, and displays an imageformed in accordance with the image signal, which is an electricalsignal photoelectrically converted by the imaging element 2. The liquidcrystal panel 5 is disposed so that longitudinal sides (edges) of theliquid crystal panel 5 are oriented in a horizontal direction of thecamera body 1. A light-guiding plate 12 guides light emitted fromwhite-light emitting diodes (white LEDs) 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, and 6 d to theliquid crystal panel 5. The light-guiding plate 12 is formedsubstantially in the same shape (plan view) as that of the liquidcrystal panel 5, and is disposed/oriented so that the longer sides andthe shorter sides of the light-guiding plate 12 substantially overlapthe longer sides and the shorter sides, respectively, of the liquidcrystal panel 5. White LEDs 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, and 6 d are soldered to asubstrate 11 and provided at a shorter side (vertical edge) of thelight-guiding plate 12. The liquid crystal panel 5, the white LEDs 6 (6a-6 d), the substrate 11, and the light-guiding plate 12 are held as aunit by a holder 13, and are disposed behind the image-pickup lens unit2 and the imaging element 3. A memory card 7 is a detachable recordingmedium. A connector 8 affixes the memory card 7. A battery 9 is disposedat a side of the image-pickup lens unit 2. A release button 10 isdisposed at the upper side of the camera body 1.

[0016]FIG. 2 is a sectional view from the top of the electronic camerashown in FIG. 1.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the light-guiding plate 12 is formed in awedge-shape such that the surface thereof opposite the liquid crystalpanel 5 is inclined so as to form an inclined surface 12 a which isinclined (tapered) in a horizontal direction of the camera body 1; thelight-guiding plate 12 is thicker at the side of the light-guiding plate12 adjacent the white LEDs 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, and 6 d, and is thinner at theother side. The light-guiding plate 12 thus forms a rectangularwedge-shaped prism. The thicker side of the light-guiding plate 12 isdisposed at a side face of the camera body 1 together with the whiteLEDs 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, and 6 d, and the thinner side of the light-guidingplate 12 is disposed behind (including right back portion of) theimaging element 3 and in front of the liquid crystal panel 5. That is,the light-guiding plate 12 is disposed so as to be sandwiched by theimaging element 3 and the liquid crystal panel 5, and is received in theholder 13 together with the liquid crystal panel 5. Light emitted fromthe side of the light-guiding plate 12 by the white LEDs 6 a, 6 b, 6 c,and 6 d is reflected at the inclined surface 12 a and is applied to theoverall (entire) back face of the liquid crystal panel 5. In the aboveconfiguration, a rearward projection of the imaging element 3 isaccommodated (received) by a space formed at the thinner part of thelight-guiding plate 12. Therefore, the image-capture apparatus can bereduced in thickness even when the liquid crystal panel 5 is disposedbehind the imaging element 3.

[0018] The holder 13 is provided with a hole (cut-away part) 13 a formedin the holder 13 in a position at the back of theimaging-element-holding plate 4. The rearward projection of the imagingelement 3 is also accommodated (received) by the hole 13 a of the holder13 when the imaging-element-holding plate 4 is received in the hole 13a, whereby the image-capture apparatus can be further reduced inthickness.

[0019] In the above configuration, incident light from an object isreceived by the imaging element 3 through the image-pickup lens unit 2,is converted into an electrical signal which is processed by a signalprocessing circuit (not shown), and is displayed as an image on theliquid crystal panel 5.

[0020] Image-capturing starts when a user presses the release button 10(see FIG. 1), and the analog image signal input to the imaging element 3is converted to a digital signal and is recorded on the memory card 8.

[0021] According to the present embodiment of the present invention, animage-capture apparatus is provided in which the thickness of theimage-capture apparatus can be reduced even when the display is disposedbehind the imaging element.

[0022] The individual components shown in schematic or block form in thedrawings are all well-known in the camera arts and their specificconstruction and operation are not critical to the operation or bestmode for carrying out the invention.

[0023] While the present invention has been described with reference towhat are presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments. To the contrary, the invention is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. The scope of the following claims is to beaccorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all suchmodifications and equivalent structures and functions.

[0024] For example, a cold-cathode tube may be used as a light sourceinstead of the white LEDs 6 a, 6 b, 6 c, and 6 d according to thepresent embodiment. According to the present embodiment, when using thecold-cathode tube as a light source, the cold-cathode tube, whichgenerates relatively large noises, can be disposed remote from theimaging element 3 by disposing the cold-cathode tube at a shorter side(vertical edge) of the light-guiding plate 12, whereby the effect ofnoise from the light source on the imaging element can be reduced.

[0025] Although according to the present embodiment, a charge-coupleddevice (CCD) is used as the imaging element 3, an area light-receivingsensor, such as a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS), or alight-receiving sensor, such as a line sensor, may be used as theimaging element 3.

[0026] Although according to the present embodiment, the rearwardprojection of one part of the imaging element 3 is received in a spaceformed at the thinner portion of the light-guiding plate 12 and in thehole 13 a of the holder 13, the entire imaging element 3 may be receivedin the space formed at the thinner portion of the light-guiding plate 12and in the hole 13 a of the holder 13.

[0027] The present invention may be carried out in the form of anindependent apparatus which incorporates all or part of the claimedfeatures and features of the described embodiment. The invention mayalso be combined with another type of apparatus, or be incorporated inan apparatus so as to serve as a component thereof.

[0028] The present invention may be applied to various types of camerassuch as an electronic camera for capturing still images and/or movingimages, a camera using a silver-salt film, a single-lens-reflex camera,a lens-shutter camera, and a surveillance camera. The invention also maybe applied to image-capture apparatuses, optical apparatuses, and thelike other than cameras, apparatuses used in these cameras,image-capture apparatuses, optical apparatuses, and other apparatuses,and components forming these apparatuses.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image-capture apparatus comprising: an imagingelement; a display; and a light-guiding member, having an inclinedsurface, disposed so that a portion of said light-guiding member havinga reduced thickness is disposed behind said imaging element, theinclined surface of said light-guiding member reflecting light to beapplied to said display, thereby guiding the light to said display. 2.An image-capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least onepart of the portion of said light-guiding member having a reducedthickness is disposed directly behind said imaging element.
 3. Animage-capture apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the portion ofsaid light-guiding member having a reduced thickness is positionedbetween said imaging element and said display.
 4. An image-captureapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display is disposed behindsaid imaging element.
 5. An image-capture apparatus according to claim1, wherein at least one part of said display is disposed directly behindsaid imaging element.
 6. An image-capture apparatus according to claim1, wherein said imaging element includes an area light-receiving sensor.7. An image-capture apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the arealight-receiving sensor comprises a charge-coupled device.
 8. Animage-capture apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said arealight-receiving sensor comprises a complementary metal-oxidesemiconductor sensor.
 9. An image-capture apparatus according to claim1, wherein said display displays images captured by said imagingelement.
 10. An image-capture apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid display comprises a liquid crystal panel.
 11. An image-captureapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light-guiding member guidesthe light to said display so as to be applied thereto from the back ofsaid display.
 12. An image-capture apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said light-guiding member is wedge-shaped.
 13. An image-captureapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said light-guiding memberapplies the light to said display from a part of said light-guidingmember positioned at a shorter side of said display.
 14. Animage-capture apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: alight source provided in said light-guiding member, for applying thelight to said display from a part of said light-guiding memberpositioned at a shorter side of said display.
 15. An image-captureapparatus according to claim 14, wherein said light source is providedin a portion opposite the portion having a reduced thickness at theinclined surface of said light-guiding member.
 16. An image-captureapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said display is formed in arectangular panel having shorter sides and longer sides, and saidlight-guiding member is disposed along a lengthwise direction of saidrectangular panel.
 17. An image-capture apparatus according to claim 16,wherein said light-guiding member applies the light along the lengthwisedirection of the rectangular panel of said display.
 18. An image-captureapparatus according to claim 16, wherein said light-guiding member isformed in the same rectangular panel as said display.
 19. Animage-capture apparatus according to claim 16, wherein saidlight-guiding member is disposed so as to overlap said display formed inthe rectangular panel.
 20. An image-capture apparatus according to claim16, wherein the inclined surface of said light-guiding member is formedin a direction of the longer sides of said light-guiding member.
 21. Animage-capture apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the inclinedsurface of said light-guiding member is formed at a side of saidlight-guiding member facing said imaging element.
 22. An image-captureapparatus according to claim 16, wherein said display formed in therectangular panel is disposed such that the longer sides of said displayare positioned opposing each other in a vertical direction of theimage-capture apparatus.
 23. An image-capture apparatus according toclaim 1, further comprising: a holding member that holds said displayand includes a cut-away part in which at least one part of said imagingelement is received.
 24. An image-capture apparatus according to claim23, wherein the cut-away part of said holding member is provided in aposition corresponding to a thinner part of said light-guiding member.25. An image-capture apparatus according to claim 23, wherein saidholding member holds said light-guiding member.
 26. An image-captureapparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a holding memberthat holds said light-guiding member and includes a cut-away part inwhich at least one part of said imaging element is received.
 27. Animage-capture apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the cut-away partof said holding member is provided in a position corresponding to athinner part of said light-guiding member.
 28. An image-captureapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said imaging element is disposedin a manner such that at least the back of said imaging element ispositioned in a space formed in the portion of said light-guiding memberhaving a reduced thickness at the inclined surface.
 29. An image-captureapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises acamera.
 30. An image-capture apparatus according to claim 1, whereinsaid apparatus comprises an electronic camera.